Time to jump into the IWSG pool!
The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
JULY 6 QUESTION: What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?
Great question!
We (or is it just me???) tend to focus on our needs and weaknesses a lot of the time. It's important to remember that we have strengths too.
I recently gained a new critique buddy and have been exchanging chapters of our current WIPs. It's a lot of fun working with other writers and each crit buddy and beta reader brings something different to the table.
This new buddy gave me an awesome compliment in a recent email... I think you are a certainty to get this published. It's quite clear you've mastered your writing craft.
Wow! As you can no doubt understand, I've been smiling ever since!
How about you? What positives have you heard recently about your writing?
Remember to check out this link to find other IWSG posts!
Welcome to the IWSG, Jemi!
ReplyDeleteIf she thinks you have mastered it, then it's only a matter of time before you are published.
I hope so, Alex! Waiting on having a few books ready before I head out!
DeleteThat's very nice! And yes, it is important to remember the positives (that way we can keep doing them!).
ReplyDeleteSo true, Jeff!
DeleteAw, what a fantastic compliment! No wonder it left you smiling...
ReplyDeleteStill am! :)
DeleteThat comment would keep me going, too. Keep it going, girl! I need to find a critique group.
ReplyDeleteI'll be smiling for a bit! :)
DeleteAnd I bet it's one of those big, silly-happy grins. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteYou've got it!! :P
DeleteHearing someone say you have mastered your writing craft is indeed a high compliment. Congrats! Even more so for acquiring a new critique partner. Those aren't easy to come by and worth their weight in gold.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gail! Crit buddies are indeed incredible!!
DeleteYou can't ask for more than that kind of comment. Hope it inspired you to not only grin, but keep moving forward on your manuscript. Yeah!
ReplyDeleteIt did for sure!! :)
DeleteYay! I love it. That's exactly the kind of thing we all want to hear. You rock, woman.
ReplyDeleteThank you!! :)
DeleteWelcome to the IWSG, Jemi!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great comment!
That's reason enough to smile...like a Cheshire cat!
Happy IWSG Day!
Writer In Transit
Thanks Michelle!!
DeleteCheshire Cat all the way :)
A wonderful compliment! Keep holding onto it to power you through your summer writing!
ReplyDeleteI will! I've been diving in deeply! :)
DeleteHi Jemi, welcome to IWSG. That's such a lovely compliment. I said that to my crit partner for a novel I critiqued. I remember my words "You are sure to get an agent with this book." And he got the agent. I had not said that for his earlier two books.
ReplyDeleteYes, we should focus on our strengths and not just weaknesses.
Rachna Chhabria
Co-host IWSG
Rachna's Scriptorium
Rachna - that gave me a bit of a chill! :)
DeleteFocusing on those strengths is a challenge
Welcome, Jemi. Sounds like you've found yourself a wonderful and supportive crit partner. Hang on, they're a true gift. Happy IWSG Day.
ReplyDeleteI did! and I will! :)
DeleteSweet! I wish people said such nice things to me. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWelcome to IWSG!
www.cdgallantking.ca
I'm sure they will! :)
DeleteA comment about mastering your craft is awesome. :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed - it totally made my day! (week, month, year...)
DeleteWhat an awesome compliment, Jemi! Make sure you hold onto that email and revisit it when you're feeling insecure.
ReplyDeleteI just realized how long it's been since I've visited. I've missed you!
VR Barkowski
I will!
DeleteI know! I thought the same when I saw your name on the IWSG site this morning!!! It's been too long - we'll have to do better :)
HI, Jemi,
ReplyDeleteWhat an AWESOME compliment! I'm sure it was well deserved. I bet you finish that first draft in record time. LOL
All the best with your new project and crit partner!
Thanks Michael - I hope so! It sure made me smile :)
DeleteSuch wonderful words to hear. I'd be smiling from ear to ear too. Why is that we tend to only focus on the negative? It's harder to stay focused on our positives. Not sure why. Maybe we think if we do, we'll be thought of as ego freaks or something.
ReplyDeleteHappy IWSG Day!
Elsie
Elsie - I wish I knew why we focus on the negative - maybe because it's easier to believe? It shouldn't be, but it is!
DeleteThat is high praise. Of course it will happen. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're a sweetie - thanks! :)
DeleteCool! One of the things someone told me in a review was that my characters reminded her of the ones Nora Roberts creates.
ReplyDeleteOh!!!! That's an awesome compliment!!!!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteMy writing coach/book editor gave me praise about my progress. I was floored because I know she doesn't say things just to make me feel good. She is a tough cookie and coming from her, what she said was a big compliment that I accepted.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia
That's wonderful, Pat! When you get that praise from a tough source, it is a great feeling! Enjoy it :)
DeleteA wonderful compliment, Jemi! And of course it will happen! All the best!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Nas!! :)
DeleteIt's great to concentrate on the positive! Congratulations, I've no doubt you'll achieve your goals! Each compliment pushes us closer to our goals and great critique and beta readers make all the difference!
ReplyDeleteThey do indeed! Don't know where I'd be without my crit buddies!!
DeleteJemi I was so pleased with the compliment. I know you've worked long and hard perfecting your craft. I wish you every success in publication! And great that you have good CPs and betas! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise! You're so sweet! I love my crit buddies!! :)
DeleteTHAT is a wonderful testament to your writing.
ReplyDeleteI love my crit partner, too. :)
Aren't crit buddies the best??? :)
DeleteHow did I miss that there was a question for this month's IWSG post? Where was that explained? Oops. Happy writing nonetheless!
ReplyDeleteLOL - I don't think it matters Margo! The point is in the mutual support and sharing!! :)
DeleteHi Jemi, Crit Buddies are great! Better to find those mistakes before releasing a book with a bunch of typos, errors and discrepencies.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I also need them to tell me when I'm being overly cheesy!!
DeleteHi, Jemi! Welcome to the IWSG! I really like the point you made about how important it is that we remember our strengths! Is so easy to angst over our weaknesses. I see from your bio that you are a teacher in Northern Ontario. That caught my eye, because I spent part of my childhood in Northern Ontario: Lansdowne House, Lac Seul, and Sioux Lookout! I should have guessed you were a teacher right away when you focused on strengths! I'm a retired third grade teacher! I hope that you find the IWSG as rewarding as I have!
ReplyDeleteThanks Fundy Blue!
DeleteHow nice to meet a former northerner (although I haven't been that far north!) :)
Teaching does show us how to find those strengths, doesn't it. So nice to meet you - and I'm totally jealous of your current location!
oh my gosh, what a wonderful critique response!!! Congrats, Jemi!
ReplyDeleteI know! Still has me bouncing :)
DeleteThat is a very encouraging thing to hear. I bet it comes to mind whenever you get discouraged.
ReplyDeleteIt will! :)
DeleteWhat a great comment! I hope that means you are going to start querying???
ReplyDeleteIt's funny about self doubt...it's so much easier than believing in yourself. :(
Maybe! Still not sure if I'll query or self-pub. I really want to have 3 stories ready to go at once.
DeleteThis is something I really need to do. Get a beta reading buddy. So far I've been relying on my own viewpoint, as to whether something is good or not.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great compliment you received. :)
Jeff - betas & crit buddies are the absolute best! I've grown so much more with them than I ever could have on my own!!!
DeleteThat is an excellent comment. So glad you have critique partner you can work with and who will support your writing.
ReplyDeleteMe too! I don't know where I'd be without my crit buddies :)
DeleteThat's amazing! I truly hope that happens - and that you come to Toronto on a book signing tour!
ReplyDeleteThat would be so awesome! I'll let you pick the restaurant! :)
DeleteWow, and truly wonderful feedback.
ReplyDeleteFeather - I was thrilled! :)
DeleteHey Jemi,
ReplyDeleteHow's it goin', eh? :)
Your new critique buddy is just the positive tonic in your writing momentum. Awesome stuff, Jemi! I was thinking about exchanging whips, um WIP's...
I've been told by a number of published writers that I have a unique, intimate writing style that "talks" to the one reader and not an audience. That means a lot because I write for therapy in a sharing sense.
Well done to you, Jemi!
Gary :)
Gary - she's awesome! I love discovering a new writer I enjoy!
DeleteYou and Penny each have such unique writing voices - you definitely speak to this reader!!! :)